Although young Canadians are taking steps to address climate change, they don\u2019t plan on adopting the three lifestyle changes that are most effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, says new research from Brock University.<\/p>\n
In a cross-Canada survey of 17- and 18-year-olds, many youth identified recycling, using public transport and conserving energy in the home as actions they had adopted to mitigate climate change.<\/p>\n
But they were less open to eating a reduced amount of red meat, purchasing an electric car, or having one fewer child or no children, says the study, \u201cLifestyle decisions and climate mitigation: current action and behavioural intent of youth<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEighty per cent of youth say they recycle, but recycling is 300 times less effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions than having one less child, and youth are very resistant to that,\u201d says Brock Professor of Biological Sciences and Psychology Gary Pickering, the study\u2019s lead author.<\/p>\n In their study, Pickering, along with recent Brock graduate Kaylee Schoen and Marta Botta, an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Sustainability Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia, set out to identify the behaviours that about 500 17- and 18-year-olds are currently engaging in to help mitigate climate change.<\/p>\n The researchers asked participants questions about their climate change beliefs and knowledge, how in control they felt about taking action, whether or not they believe their actions have an impact, their religious background and beliefs, political affiliation, diet, and basic demographics such as age and gender.<\/p>\n Participants were then presented with nine actions and asked to indicate which ones they are currently practising.<\/p>\n The actions vary in how much they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They are, from most to least impactful: having one fewer child\/no children; no car or first\/next car will be electric; eating less red meat; taking public transport; conserving energy in the home; vacationing locally; recycling; conserving water; and avoiding excessive packaging.<\/p>\n The second part of the study sought to predict participants\u2019 willingness to adopt these climate change mitigation measures.<\/p>\n